Butler biff provides distraction

It is the one time of year the government is put under sustained questioning, when ministers can't deflect a question with a slogan or "history lesson", when answers, no matter how uncomfortable, must be given.

And at the end of the first day of budget estimates hearings, Queensland is talking about butlers.

In a session that covered what sacked department of transport director-general Michael Caltabiano earned for just five months work ($652,947) the government was given a boon from the opposition when it referred to a member of Premier Campbell Newman's staff as a butler.

The staff member, who Bill Byrne did not name during questioning, and neither will Fairfax Media, is listed on Mr Newman's staff as an adviser and previously worked at Brisbane City Council.

The mood between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier Campbell Newman appears to have soured since they met last week. Photo: Glenn Hunt

His job is to get things ready – prepare meeting rooms, ensure meals are delivered when they are meant to, make sure things run smoothly – the same duties personal assistants and the like attend to all over the state, nation, world, every day.

Labelling him a butler gave the Premier an opportunity to deflect questioning by referring to staff who fulfil a similar role for other executives and politicians, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

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"When I go to Kevin Rudd's office, I notice that someone carries a cushion around for him, I certainly do not have someone doing that," Mr Newman said.

"If that is what a butler is...I can confirm that the current Prime Minister, for the moment, has a gentleman carrying a cushion around for the Prime Minister.

"That seems very much to be in the nature of a butler."

Which led to the strange case of "Barry McKenzie", the lumbar cushion, becoming a social media identity, when Mr Rudd tweeted a photo of it in response to Mr Newman's answer.

Mr Rudd was in Rockhampton, a little over 640 kilometres away from estimates in Brisbane, asking staff members to raise their hands if they had ever carried 'Mr McKenzie', his back support pillow, when it wasn't in his own hands.

"Talking about Barry the back cushion is just kinda weird," Mr Rudd said. Everyone had a laugh.

Meanwhile, the director-general of the premier's department, Jon Grayson, told the estimates hearing that Jeff Seeney, while acting premier, had signed an Executive Council minute which outlined the much maligned MP pay rise would also apply to the allowances for office bearers on July 3.

That was six days before Mr Seeney said he knew about it.

Mr Newman also put a figure to the job losses – 13,827. The public service has been reduced from 204,199 full time job equivalents to 190,372.

"Let's hope that no other Queensland government ever has to do this again, because it has not been a pleasant thing," Mr Newman concluded.